Improvement in animal-traps



W. A. SHIGLEY.

Animal- Trap.

Patented 0ct.1'|, 1875.

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" 6" ATTORNEYS WITNESSES N. PETERS, PNOIG-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. SHIGLEY, OF JEDDO, KANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ANIM AL-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,792, dated October 11, 1875-; applidation filed June 12, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. SHIGLEY, of J eddo, in the county of Allen and State of Kansas, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Animal-Traps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part'of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a longitudinal vertical section of my animal-trap, and Fig.2 is a plan view of the same.

This invention has relation to improvements in animal-traps, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A designates the first chamber of my improved trap; B, the second, and U the third. These chambers communicate directly with each other by meansv of grated metallic doors a a, which are pivoted at or near their upper ends so as to open inward only, their outward opening being prevented in the case of door a by means of a stop, I), and in the other by a treadle, D, hinged at c in chamber B, so as to vibrate vertically. This treadle is connected, by means of rods 01 passing through saw-cuts e in the top of chamber B, with a vertically-vibrating lever, E, which is adjustably fulcrumed, at f, in the upper end of an upright, F, and which is connected, by means of a pivotal rod, g, upon its other end, to a trap-door, G, of angular form, closing the top and end of chamber A. This door is hinged at h to the end of chamber B, the vertical height of which is somewhat greater than that of chambers A O, and it isset for use by means of a notched spring-rod, H, which is secured to the front end of chamber B, and extends downward through a slot, 8, in door G, a lip, i, being formed in the under side and rear end of the said slot, for the purpose of securing a ready detachment of the door and rod. The lower end of trigger-rod H passes through an eye, 7', in the upper end or a bent wire, K, attached to and overhanging a hinged board, L, in chamber A. Whenthe door is in the position shown in full lines, Fig. 1,- this board will be free of the floor of the chamber, and treadle D will be in the position shown in the same figure; but when an animal, attracted by the bait on a bait-board, k, in the rear end of chamber A, gets upon hinged board L, its weight will depress it, thus disengaging trigger-rod H from the door, when the latter will fall, completely closing the entrance to the said chamber, and throwing the treadle into the position shown in dotted lines. The animal, attracted by a light entering through a glass-covered aperture, 1, in the upper rear end of chamber B, will pass under gate a, which will readily swing upward for the pur pose, to and up the inclined treadle D, which will yield under his weight, causing the trapdoor G to be raised and set ready for another capture. By the fall of the treadle the animal will be brought face to face with door a in the rear end of chamber B, rushing through which it will escape into chamber 0, which, being lined with a suitable sheetmetal, will effectually hold it captive.

In practice, chamber 0 may be of any size, or it may communicate with a properly-1i ghted game-box, in which case the said chamber will preferably be provided with an elbow, m, which will be closed by a gate, at, opening outward, so that the captured animals may enter the game-box; but where the latter is dispensed with, gate n will open inwardly only, being prevented from outward vibration by means of a suitable stop. Chamber 0 will, however, be lighted under any circumstances, in order that, being attracted by the light, they may enter the same and escape into the game-box, if one be used.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The vertically-vibrating lid G, having slot 8 and lip t, in combination with a notched rod, H, rod K, and vibrating detaching-board L, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ADDISON SHIGLEY.

Witnesses WALTER SIMoNs, CYRUS J. HAwLEY. 

